Best Things to Do in Bozeman, Montana

You’ll be right at home with the Bozemanites if you tell them you’re off to “hike the M.” High up on Bridger Canyon, there is a large “M” embedded on the mountain to represent Montana State University, first installed in 1915. A 10 minute drive from downtown, this popular hike is essentially a nonstop climb. Opt for a longer, more scenic 1.5 mile route at a lower incline, or challenge your cardio with the half mile ascent. From the M, you get an unmatched view of the Gallatin Valley.

15 minutes south of Bozeman, you’ll find Sourdough Canyon, a series of trails that you can take for anywhere between two and 19 miles, depending on what mood you’re in. Nine miles of hiking will take you to beautiful Mystic Lake, where you can wade in icy water and watch the fishers. In the snowy months, many of these trails are populated with cross-country skiers. For the longer trails, don’t forget the bear spray.

If you’re hoping to peep a griz without risking danger, look no further than Montana Grizzly Encounter, a bear sanctuary a few miles west of town. Since 2004, this rescue and education sanctuary has been rescuing grizzlies and providing care for them in a vast space –– no cages in sight. On your visit, you’ll get to witness the power and beauty of grizzly bears from a safe distance, while also learning more about the species.

The Montana Mountaineering Association offers ice climbing lessons in the Hyalite Canyon, 15 minutes outside of downtown Bozeman. You can book a day-long introductory lesson, which includes equipment (minus boot rental) and technique instruction. Tours go from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

This state-wide outdoor adventure group also leads day-long hiking excursions to Hyalite Canyon, with the option for a shorter “Basic Ice Day” or an “Advanced Ice Day” with a longer duration and more complicated climbs. Montana Alpine Guides can also accommodate larger groups (up to 16 people).

The go-to local spot for western attire, this shop sells modern and vintage cowboy boots and hats, ranch blouses, bolo ties and more. Their in-house vintage collection, Johnny & June, features higher-end, store-vetted western wear. Hop in to find your cowboy getup for your Montana stay.

Just off Main Street, the downtown location of the Bozeman Co-op is the perfect pitstop for your downtown wandering. The charming red brick storefront, built in 1901, opens into produce and organic groceries. Local Montanans love the Co-op above all for its hot food bar, where you can fill up a plate with fresh, vegan- and vegetarian-friendly dishes for $11.99/lb.

This women-owned bookstore has been a fixture of downtown Bozeman since 1957. Its original wooden bookshelves call to mind the past decades of bibliophiles. Stop in to peruse national top titles, with a particular focus on Montanan writers. Check out their events page, too –– your visit just might coincide with an event with a local writer.

When you realize you’ve (inevitably) forgotten a crucial piece of outdoor equipment, look no further than this local spot. Founded in 1953 by Swiss skier August Gnehm –– credited for first bringing the sport to the area –– Chalet Sports is primarily dedicated to skiing equipment, but also sells hiking and biking wares.

Housed in the city’s former jailhouse –– complete with a flat, red-brick front, old holding cells, and former hanging gallows –– the Gallatin History Museum, located right on Main Street, focuses on Bozeman’s pioneer history. Check out a reconstructed Pioneer cabin, as well as the archive of over 20,000 historic photos from the city’s early years. This atmospheric excursion will make you feel like you’re back in the Wild West, though the omission of Gallatin Valley’s indigenous history does mean you’ll have to seek out that information elsewhere.

Just under two miles south of Main Street, the Museum of the Rockies houses a broader collection, including the world’s largest t-rex skull, which was discovered in Montana, a planetarium, and rotating exhibitions like “Enduring Peoples,” which focuses on Bozeman’s indigenous history. The “Living History Farm,” open in the warmer months, uses an old farmhouse from the 1890s to recreate what farm life would’ve been like at that time, including contemporary crops and presentations on the daily homestead chores.

The Bozeman location of this Montana-owned ice cream shop stands right on Main Street, a tempting spot to pick up a scoop of one of their sophisticated takes on classic flavors, like Mountain Mint, with mint sourced from a farm in Creston, Mont., and Huckleberry, made from local mountain huckleberries. Their specialty flavors include “Going to the Sun Road,” a honey-based ice cream named for the famous stretch of road in Glacier National Park, and Griz Tracks, a blend of caramel ice cream with pieces of chocolate chip cookies. You’ll see Bozemanites lining up for ice cream year-round.

This French-inspired chocolaterie, run by a Montana State University graduate who spent extensive time in France, and her French husband, who trained under his grandmother to become a certified Parisian chocolatier, is located in the lobby of The Baxter Hotel, right downtown. These gorgeous chocolates, hand selected and placed in satisfying little paper pouches, are a chic treat for your afternoon stroll.

One block off Main Street, you’ll find Vienne Bakery, a café selling French pastries and boulangeries. They sell sandwiches on artisan breads, croissants to accompany your latte and indulgent French-inspired treats like macarons and éclairs. The owner, Anna Mendoza, was raised on a ranch in Montana, before training as a pastry chef in the south of France and returning to her home state to open the bakery. The bakery stays open until the end of the evening, so you can also stop in for a glass of French wine to end the night.

First built as a bathhouse in 1879, Bozeman Hot Springs has transformed into a (moderately) upscale relaxation experience, with 12 pools, a café and membership options that include group fitness classes. Both indoor and outdoor pool options mean you can enjoy a plunge any time of the year. Single-day entry costs $21 for adults. On weekends, there are often events and concerts at the outdoor pools, which are an ideal place to soak and party with other Bozemanites.

A slightly more rustic, outdoorsy option for a mineral soak is Norris Hot Springs. For a more affordable $12, these less luxurious pools have the same mineral benefits and views of the landscape. The café uses ingredients from Norris Hot Springs’s own vegetable and herb garden. Miners originally built these pools in the 1860s, and much of the property has been preserved. You can imagine yourself as an exhausted gold miner, seeking rest after a hard day’s work.

The recent influx of out-of-towners to Bozeman’s downtown has sparked an increase in the number, and quality, of local restaurants. For omnivores, this is a great spot for meat you might not find elsewhere –– Bozeman is known for its elk burgers. This steakhouse is the place to go for beef and bison. Your vegetarian friends need not fret; the cheese board is perfect for picking, and the refreshing cocktails go down easy for anybody. Book a reservation just in case. Open Range’s rustic, exposed-wooden interiors and atmospheric outdoor patio call for a bit of dress-up.

A Montana favorite with locations in Bozeman and Missoula, Plonk serves up artisanal wines, inventive cocktails and a seasonal menu that includes local cheeses and meats, fresh salads and some eastern-inspired dishes like tempura vegetables and crispy pork belly. The brick wall and dim yellow lighting make this stylish restaurant a great date night option.

This Italian-inspired restaurant on Main Street will hit the spot after a long day of hiking, with fresh pizzas, generous salads and a long list of Italian wines. Reservations are not required but highly encouraged: Blackbird tends to book out, and is only open for dinner. This small, buzzy restaurant is a hub for hungry locals and visitors, but utterly unpretentious. Come as you are, and come hungry.

A restaurant and bar on the east end of Main Street, Montana Ale Works has elevated bar food to nibble on –– including burgers and Shepherd’s pies made from local bison –– and an extensive selection of beer on tap, including local ales and IPAs. Happy Hour, daily from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., gives you $1 off all draft beers and wine glasses. Housed in a former freight building, Montana Ale Works’ seating options include the bar, the outdoor patio and a converted, historic freight car equipped with booths and music.

A funky little spot right downtown with a selection of burritos, and local and international craft beers. If you’re not in the mood to sit down, you can check out the curated Bottle Shop, where store experts can advise you. If you do choose to dine in, you can build your own burrito –– or bowl –– to munch on while you try out some funky brews on the rooftop garden or at the bar.

Right in the center of downtown, the Lark is outfitted with pale wooden furniture, wall drawings of local wildlife and an open-air patio with a wood-burning fireplace and a view onto Main Street. Large windows and simple décor make for bright, breezy stays. The café on the ground floor brews local Treeline Coffee Roasters coffee. While there’s no restaurant, you’re mere steps away from downtown Bozeman’s coolest dining options. The LARK partners with local fitness clubs to offer complimentary classes. Ask for deets at the front desk.

A slightly more upmarket hotel, the AC Hotel Bozeman Downtown, owned by Marriott Hotels, has all-day dining options at the AC Kitchen and AC Lounge, a 2,500 sq. ft. venue space, and clean, sleek rooms to rest between your Bozeman activities. The Benchmark, AC’s rooftop restaurant, serves cocktails and fresh pizza with a rare view of downtown Bozeman and the mountains beyond.